ely abandon fiances h
malice aforet.“
int. usa today loading docks - continuous
ers to ellies office.
int. usa today office - continuous
y room. tracts a
lot of attention from tle
surprised, but hes pleased.
maggie (v.o.; contd)
“ts wo find mr.
graor was a woman. call me a
sentimental fool, but i sort of hoped
er could stick toget;
ike ors office. chuffa
ike greets various o tors
secretary, elaine. s smile.
ike
(to elaine)
ill put in a good word for you.
elaine
no, no, dont mention my name in there.
ike
hy?
a buzz.
elaine
you can go in now.
ike goes into ellies office. elaine picks up her phone.
cut to:
int. ellies office - continuous
ellie is t editor. stylish and successful looking, shes
about ikes age. ellie sits beh a scowl on
ty face. s
noncly on ters as ellie reads
maggies letter.
ellie
(reading letter)
“any dropping you big city
folk ttle note to say t i have
t of a ritual sacrifice t would
satisfy my current appetite: ike
grater. yours
truly, maggie carpenter. p.s. -- i
of the gross
factual misrepresentations in your
article. teen.“
ike sits as ellie puts tter doakes off her glasses.
ike
(cs)
fully. i like .
ellie
i left four messages. you dont retu
my calls.
ike
so? i never retued your calls, even
ws
fisher doing here anyway?
fiss and places a po of t on a bookshelf on his
o the room.
fisher
ellie asked me to come doo offer
moral support.
ike
since when does ellie need moral supp--
ellie
-- its for you, ike.
ike
?
ellie
joualism lesson number one. if you
fabricate your facts, you get fired.
ellie pusoday later across the desk for him
to read. ike picks it up and skims tter. his face is as
impassive as stone.
ike
lesson number two. never work for your
former spouse.
ellie
ts not noto do . you
cooked tory up and you kno.
ike
i didnt cook up a story. i had a
source.
ellie
someone reliable, im sure. a booze-
hound in a bar?
fisher
in vino veritas.
ike
dont knock drunk guys in bars. drunk
guys in bars are good. it means
t driving.
ike gets up and stands near ellie, making .
ike (contd)
besides, im a columnist. t
columnists are supposed to do. this is
ch, we
go out on a limo. ts w makes me
good!
ellie
no, ts w makes you unemployed.
ike
i merely e tuff. youre the
one t serves it up.
ike puts doter and puts o his
pocket.
ellie
not anymore. i o drahe line.
(pushing a piece
of paper)
s us t. our lawyers say
its actionable.
ellie .
ike
(scoffs)
lawyers.
(glances at list)
i dont know, ellie -- firing me is
going to be very tougs
going to be o get over. there
herapy bills for you.
ellie
(shrugs)
i already made an appointment for later
today.
ike
(putting t
doanding)
see? you custody of my job? ...
just consider my slapped
and call me when you feel ive served
my time?
ellie
im sorry, ike. t.
fis eacher
for a sober moment.
ellie (v.o.; contd)
if you go quietly, ill get you
severance pay.
ellie fidgets oy rake, the door.
tle at truth of her words and walks
out. ellie collapses back in o her and
rubs her shoulders.